"The black shoes are mine."

15 Comments

This is the first time I have encountered "de" used to mean something other than "they." When is it necessary to use it this way? Could the sentence simply be "Svarta skorna är mina" or does the use of adjectives require that a "de" be used as well?

"De" is used when the noun is plural and when there is an adjective before it, just like you have to use "den" and "det" in the singular when nouns have adjectives. For example, you have to say "Den vita boken," and not "Vit boken." As you can see, you still have to keep the noun in the definite form.

I still can't get it!
OK, that's clear that i need do use the definite form of the adjective.
Also I need to use the corresponding article. Why isn't it 'Den' instead of 'De'?
En sko - skon - skorna - den svarta skorna.